NEW YEAR MEANS CHANGES FOR TAXES, DRIVING AND LIGHT BULBS

State lawmakers laid down hundreds of new laws that will change how Californians drive, shop and do business in 2013, but perhaps the most sweeping was imposed by voters themselves.

Voters in November passed a state sales tax increase starting Jan. 1 and retroactively hiked income taxes for upper-income earners to avoid deep cuts to education.

Californians also will pay more at the cash register for lumber products, cities will get limits on new red-light cameras, gun owners will no longer be allowed to carry unloaded rifles and shotguns in public view and undocumented immigrants will move a step closer to being able to obtain a driver’s license.